Reference:4232 Fryderyck Chopin Portrait Plaque, c. 1910

An exceptional portrait plaque of the Polish composer Fryderyck Chopin, his half-length bust, to right, wearing a jacket with collar, and shirt beneath. Inscription to right: CHOPIN 1809-49. Signed below, ROBERT COUTIN. Bronze, cast. 280 mm. (11 inches) in height by 220 mm. (8.6 inches) in width.

Condition: Minor rubbing at the top, but a very fine and well patinated cast of high quality.

Notes: Fryderyck Chopin (1810-49), celebrated composer and pianist, born near Warsaw, of a French father and Polish mother. Chopin made his professional debut in 1829, and two years later settled in Paris. One of the principal figures of the Romantic School and with a highly distinctive sound, he produced a large body of lyrical compositions as well as larger-scale works, almost all of them for the piano. Robert Elie Coutin was a French sculptor born at Rheims. He studied under his father, Auguste, at the National School of Decorative Arts, and started exhibiting at the Salon des Artistes Francais in 1912, specialising in busts, heads and torsos. This portrait of Chopin is believed to have been produced around the time of his centenary in 1910 (the year of birth is incorrectly stated on the plaque). With its softly-modelled and textured relief, the plaque represents an early work of the sculptor, who has succeeded in capturing much of Chopin - his torment, vision and frailty. Plaques of this size and type are rare, and such will have been the cost that it almost certainly represents a special commission. One can but speculate as to its likely source, but Paris was Chopin's adopted home and his memory will have been very much alive, his music continuing to be played in its many halls and salons. Today, one hundred years later, his circle of admirers shows no signs of diminishing, with many cities now having their own Chopin Society (for that in London go to: www.chopin-society.org.uk). The plaque is unpublished and missing from every major medal collection and music library. It is mounted on a wooden frame (257 x 332 mm. / 10.3 x 13.3 inches, overall), a suspension hook on the reverse side to facilitate hanging. Would you please note that you are in the ARCHIVE page of the website, where all sold items are placed. For items that are still available, please go to the menu opposite and click on MEDALS & MEDALLIC ART.